Cigarette Package

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit comprising: a) a packaging box ( 10 ) comprising an opening and closing mechanism; b) a divider element ( 24 ) of relatively stiff material, wherein the divider is positioned between a front ( 16 ) and back wall ( 18 ) of the packaging box; and c) an extendible matchbook ( 30 ) positioned between the front wall of the packaging box and a front wall of the divider element. The matchbook is slidingly displaceable between a first concealed rest position within the confines of the packaging box and a second displaced position in which the matchbook is extended with a series of matches ( 38 ) and a striking surface ( 34 ) protruding above the front wall of the packaging box and the bottom of the matchbook is retained at least in part within the confines of the packaging box.

The present invention relates to the packaging of cigarettes.

More particularly, the invention provides a consumer-size cigarette package including a readily-accessible matchbook.

There is little doubt that smokers would appreciate the convenience of a package containing both the item to be smoked and matches, as was evident already in 1906 when Niell filed his design for a cigar case in U.S. Pat. No. 827,558. Although many designs for cigarette boxes have been disclosed, no major cigarette producer has yet marketed such a combination, either because of the high cost of replacing high speed manufacturing machinery by machinery of even higher cost or because the designs proposed do not provide the user with the same ease and safety of use that is found presently when cigarettes and matches are marketed separately. Requirements of a cigarette & matchbox include factors such as retention of the basic rectangular form to which users have become familiar, fast access to both cigarettes and matches and a striking surface for a match, attractive outer appearance, moisture protection for the contents, suitability for use in vending machines preferably of the existing types, and suitability for high speed moderate cost manufacturing.

The following US Patents provide a fair review of the state of the art.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,630 Lubash discloses a cigarette box, with matches stored in a compartment recessed into the front wall of the package. A removable, unconnected cover protects and retains the matches. Due to the loose cover and the recess storing the matches, access to and removal of a match is cumbersome.

In the cigarette box proposed by Erlich in U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,769 the matches are inconveniently stored in a compartment adjacent to the base of the box. The primary object of this disclosure is to allow a smoker to easily grasp a cigarette. The box has a shape similar to a parallelogram which could cause difficulties in a vending machine.

Mikkail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,366 discloses an arrangement wherein a standard cigarette box is encircled by a tape which holds the matchbook to the front of the box. There are manufacturing advantages to this design, but access to the matches requires opening a flap. The external matchbook would cause difficulties in a vending machine.

Ready access to the matches is an important advantage in the cigarette box disclosed by Monto in U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,850. The matches are attached to a flap which opens together with the opening of the box lid. The flap is however not stabilized and the matchbook may fail to open or even open too far for reclosure of the box.

A much more stable design is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,728 to Neyret et al. A match-holding tray is slidingly supported at the base of the box. The package is of rectangular shape and thus easily dispensed from a vending machine. Convenience of use however is not good as the tray is difficult to grasp for sliding out, and the match is not conveniently removed due to the tray sidewalls.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of prior art packages and to provide a box shaped as a rectangular slab which is suitable for dispensing in a vending machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the smoker quick and easy access to the matches and to a striking surface.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit comprising:

a) a packaging box comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and an opening and closing mechanism, wherein said front wall and said back wall each adjoins said two side walls along opposing long axes of said side walls and said top wall and bottom wall each adjoins said two side walls along opposing short axes of said side walls;

b) a divider element of relatively stiff material, comprising a front panel and two side panels, wherein said divider is positioned between said front and back wall of said packaging box and said divider side panels adjoin or are contiguous with the interior surface of said packaging box side walls; and

c) an extendible matchbook positioned between a front wall of said packaging box and a front wall of said divider element, said matchbook comprising:

-   -   i) a front wall comprising a striking surface;     -   ii) a back wall adjoining a bottom of said front wall; and     -   iii) a series of matches secured at a juncture between inner         surfaces of said front and back walls of said matchbook;         wherein said matchbook is slidingly displaceable between a first         concealed rest position within the confines of said packaging         box and a second displaced position in which said matchbook is         extended with said series of matches and said striking surface         protruding above said front wall of said packaging box and said         bottom of said matchbook is retained at least in part within the         confines of said packaging box.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said matchbook includes an extender panel adjoined to an outer surface of said matchbook back wall and said divider element.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said packaging box includes a sliding track mechanism for guiding and retaining opposite sides of the back wall of said matchbook.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said extendible matchbook, said packaging box, said divider or a combination thereof are comprised of a paper material.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises a hinge region on said back wall and an extension of said back wall to form a box, which adjoins said front wall and two side walls.

In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises an extendible flap region on said back wall, which adjoins said front wall and two side walls.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit as described above, further comprising a cigarette casing comprising:

a. a back wall;

b. two sidewalls; and

c. a front wall;

wherein said casing is of a dimension and material to accommodate a series of cigarettes and maintain the freshness and integrity of said series of cigarettes and said casing is positioned between said divider element and said back wall of said packaging box. Advantageously said cigarette casing includes a foil material which encloses said series of cigarettes. Preferably said foil material forms an inner layer.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said cigarette casing includes an outer layer comprising a material resistant to puncture.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided the combination cigarette package and matchbook unit as described above, wherein said cigarette casing is resealable.

In further embodiments of the invention said matchbook is guided and restrained between said rest position and said displaced position by at least one protruding tab extending into a slot of a length allowing the matchbook to move between said rest and said displaced position.

In some preferred embodiments, there is provided a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein said at least one protruding tab is attached to said matchbook and said slot forms a part of said packaging box or divider element. said matchbook is guided and restrained between said rest position and said displaced position by at least one protruding tab extending into a slot of a length allowing the matchbook to move between said rest and said displaced position. Preferably said matchbook is provided with an extension flap folded over to cover an upper edge of said packaging box front wall, said flap being retained by frictional contact with said front wall or with a slot therein.

It will thus be realized that the novel package of the present invention retains the shape and size of a rectangular slab being similar or identical to standard boxes containing cigarettes only. The primary advantage of the invention is that the matchbook can be fully deployed in about 2 seconds by pulling a tab upwards in the direction of the box lid.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention, the matchbook being seen in its test position;

FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, the matchbook being seen in its deployed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented perspective view of a embodiment of the combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein the matchbook is affixed to an extender panel;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of a detail of an embodiment of the combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein the matchbook is retained by a foldable lower extent ion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the package, the upper closure being hinged to the box;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment wherein the cigarettes are protected by a metal foil package;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment wherein the inner faces of the box are lined with a foil material;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment wherein the matchbook is guided and restrained by slots and extending tabs;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of embodiments wherein a front flap extends from the matchbook; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, for reference, of a matchbook as referred to in the present invention.

There is seen in FIG. 1 a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit.

A packaging box 10 comprises a bottom wall 12, a top wail 14, a front wall 16, a back wall 18 and two side walls 20, and holds ten or twenty cigarettes 22.

The front wall 16 and the back wall 18 each adjoin the two side walls 20 along opposing long axes of the side walls. The top wall and bottom wall each adjoins the two side walls along opposing short axes of the side walls 20.

A divider element 24 of relatively stiff material comprises a front panel 26 and two side panels 28. The divider 24 is positioned between the front 16 and the back wail 18 of the packaging box. The divider side panels 28 adjoin or are contiguous with the interior surface of the packaging box side walls 20.

An extendible matchbook 30 is positioned between the front wall 18 of the packaging box and the divider front panel 26, front wall of the divider element 24.

The matchbook 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

Preferably the extendible matchbook 30, the packaging box 10, the divider 24 or a combination thereof are comprised of a paper material.

The matchbook 30 is shown in a concealed rest position within the confines of the packaging box 10. The matchbox 30 is however slidingly displaceable therefrom, and can be drawn from said rest position to a deployed position as seen in FIG. 2.

For this purpose, in the present embodiment, the packaging box 10 includes a sliding track mechanism for guiding and retaining opposite sides of the back wall 36 of the matchbook. Examples of suitable mechanisms will be seen in FIGS. 4 and 8.

With regard to the rest of the figures, similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is seen the same embodiment as FIG. 1, except that matchbook is seen in its extended position. The series of matches 38 and the striking surface 34 are seen protruding above the front wall 16 of the packaging box 10.

The bottom of the matchbook 30 is retained at least in part within the confines of the packaging box. Examples of mechanisms for achieving retention will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 8.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of an embodiment 40 of the combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein the matchbook 30 is affixed to an extender panel 44. The panel 44 is adjoined at a first extremity to an outer surface of the matchbook back wall 36 and at a second extremity to the divider element 24. The panel 44 can be curved or partly rolled up when the matchbook 30 is in its rest position. However in the present embodiment the extender panel 44 is provided with multiple accordion folds 46. The extender panel 44 serves to guide the matchbook 42 and to anchor the matchbox within the cigarette package.

Seen in FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of a further embodiment 50 of the combination cigarette package and matchbook unit. The packaging box includes a sliding track comprising a rear face 56 and a forward face 58 for guiding and retaining opposite sides of the matchbook of a widener panel 54 carrying the matchbook 30.

In quantity production the matchbook will be provided with a rear wall 36 almost as wide as the distance between side walls 20, only one sidewall appearing in the present fragmented figure.

The rear face 56 of the track is provided by an extension 60 of the divider side panel 28 while the front wall 58 of the track is formed by a filler strip 62.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit 64 wherein the opening and closing mechanism of the unit comprises a hinge region 66 on the back wall 68. An extension 70 of the back wall forms a part of the box cover 76, which adjoins to the front wall 72 and the two side walls 74 to complete the unit 64.

FIG. 6 shows a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit wherein the cigarettes 22 are further enclosed by a cigarette casing 80 comprising a back wall 82, two sidewalls 84 and a front wall 86.

The casing 80 is of a dimension and material to accommodate a series of cigarettes 22, typically ten cigarettes, and maintain the freshness and integrity thereof.

The casing 80 is positioned between the divider element 88 and the back wall 82 of the packaging box.

The cigarette casing 80 in preferably made of a foil material, such as aluminium foil.

FIG. 7 illustrates a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit 90 wherein the cigarette package includes an inner layer 92 comprising the foil material.

For further protection of the package contents, there is provided a transparent outer layer 92 made of a film resistant to puncture, for example extruded nylon 6.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is depicted a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit 94 wherein a widener panel 96 carrying the matchbook 30 is guided and restrained between the rest position and the displaced position by a pair of protruding tabs 98. The tabs 98 extend into slots 100 of a length allowing the matchbook 30 to move between the rest and the displaced position.

In the figure the protruding tabs 98 are seen attached to the widener panel 96 while the slots 100 form a part of the divider element 102.

When the matchbook 30 is in the displaced position, as seen in FIG. 2, the protruding tabs 98 contact an extremity of the slots 100, thus preventing additional extension of the matchbook 30, or its separation from the package.

FIG. 9 shows a combination cigarette package and matchbook unit 114 wherein the matchbook 116 is provided with an extension flap 118 which is seen folded over to cover an upper edge 120 of the packaging box front wall 72. The flap 118 is retained when closed by frictional contact with the inner face of front wall 72.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further embodiment similar to the unit 114. The present figure shows a resealable package 120.

An extension flap 122 extends over a portion of the front wall 124 and is inserted in a slot 126 provided in said front wall.

The extension flap 122 is printed 128 to match the portion of the front wall 124 which is covered when the flap 122 is inserted into the slot 126.

There is seen in FIG. 11 the matchbook 30. No novelty is claimed for this item, the following description being provided as an aid for better understanding of the invention.

The matchbook has a front wall 32 including a striking surface 34. The matchbox back wall 36 is seen in its standard width, although it is preferably almost as wide as the width available inside the packaging box, whereby the matchbook can conveniently be directly guided without the need for a widener panel 54, seen in FIG. 4, and its attachment to said panel.

The back wall 36 adjoins a bottom of the matchbox front wall 32. A series of matches 38 is secured at a juncture 40 between inner surfaces of the front and back walls 32, 36 of the matchbook.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A combination cigarette package and matchbook unit comprising: a) a packaging box comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, a back wall, two side walls and an opening and closing mechanism, wherein said front wall and said back wall each adjoins said two side walls along opposing long axes of said side walls and said top wall and bottom wall each adjoins said two side walls along opposing short axes of said side walls; b) a divider element of relatively stiff material, comprising a front panel and two side panels, wherein said divider is positioned between said front and back wall of said packaging box and said divider side panels adjoin or are contiguous with the interior surface of said packaging box side walls; and c) an extendible matchbook positioned between said front wall of said packaging box and a front wall of said divider element, said matchbook comprising: i) a front wall comprising a striking surface; ii) a back wall adjoining a bottom of said front wall; and iii) a series of matches secured at a juncture between inner surfaces of said front and back walls of said matchbook; wherein said matchbook is slidingly displaceable between a first concealed rest position within the confines of said packaging box and a second displaced position in which said matchbook is extended with said series of matches and said striking surface protruding above said front wall of said packaging box and said bottom of said matchbook is retained at least in part within the confines of said packaging box.
 2. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said matchbook includes an extender panel adjoined to an outer surface of said matchbook back wall and said divider element.
 3. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 2, wherein said extender panel comprises multiple accordion folds.
 4. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said packaging box includes a sliding track mechanism for guiding and retaining opposite sides of the back wall of said matchbook.
 5. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said extendible matchbook, said packaging box, said divider or a combination thereof are comprised of a paper material.
 6. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises a hinge region on said back wall and an extension of said back wall to form a box, which adjoins said front wall and two side walls.
 7. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises an extendible flap region on said back wall, which adjoins said front wall and two side walls.
 8. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises an extendible flap region on said back wall, which adjoins said front wall and two side walls.
 9. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, further comprising a cigarette casing comprising: a) a back wall; b) two sidewalls; and c) a front wall wherein said casing is of a dimension and material to accommodate a series of cigarettes and maintain the freshness and integrity of said series of cigarettes and said casing is positioned between said divider element and said back wall of said packaging box.
 10. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 9, wherein said cigarette casing includes a foil material which encloses said series of cigarettes.
 11. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 10, wherein said cigarette casing includes an inner layer comprising said foil material.
 12. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said cigarette casing includes an outer layer comprising a material resistant to puncture.
 13. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 9, wherein said cigarette casing is resealable.
 14. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said matchbook is guided and restrained between said rest position and said displaced position by at least one protruding tab extending into a slot of a length allowing the matchbook to move between said rest and said displaced position.
 15. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 13, wherein said at least one protruding tab is attached to said matchbook and said slot forms a part of said packaging box or divider element.
 16. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 13, wherein when said matchbook is in said displaced position said at least one protruding tab is in contact with an extremity of said slot thus preventing additional extension of said matchbox.
 17. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 1, wherein said matchbook is provided with an extension flap folded over to cover an upper edge of said packaging box front wall, said flap being retained by frictional contact with said front wall.
 18. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 16, wherein said extension flap extends over a portion of said front wall and is inserted in a slot provided in said front wall.
 19. The combination cigarette package and matchbook unit of claim 17, wherein said extension flap is printed to match the portion of said front wall which is covered when said extension flap is inserted in said slot. 